Smartphone app gives instant advice to rice farmers

[MANILA] Rice farming has become the latest addition to the smartphone market for information, with a free application that can provide farmers with advice on fertiliser use suitable for their particular needs. Developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Nutrient Manager for Rice Application (NMRiceApp), was launched last month (24 January) in the Philippines, where it is available in English and Filipino languages.Specific NMRiceApp versions are also being tested for Bangladeshi and Indonesian farmers.
The Android app is designed primarily for extension workers who provide farmers with site-specific recommendations on fertiliser usage, said Rowena Castillo, assistant scientist in IRRI's crop and environmental sciences division. Read more.